Post by cruororism on Oct 9, 2003 18:23:34 GMT
Kills 16
On 19 August 1987, 27-year-old Michael Ryan shot to death 16 people and wounded 14 others in the small farming community of Hungerford, approximately 60 miles west of London. After a "Rambo style" blood fest through the streets of Hungerford, he entrenched himself in a school building where he ended his life with a gunshot to his head.
The gunman, a loner who lived with his elderly mother, loved guns and television violence. The killing spree started in a forest outside of Hungerford. Wearing combat fatigues Ryan killed a woman who was preparing a picnic for her two children. Then he drove back to his house and killed his mother and the dog and torched the place. For the next two hours Ryan moved through the town, randomly killing or wounding everyone he met.
Ryan's rampage ended at the John O'Gaunt High School. Despondent over having killed his mom and his dog, Ryan commented "I wish I had stayed in bed". After 4 hours and several talks with the police Mike ended his life with the last round in his 9-mm. pistol.
After his deadly rampage the British government took steps to end the right to wear firearms, and to curtail television violence. Also, the film Rambo III was banned in several towns in the UK, because of Mike's claim of being inspired by Rambo movies.